3 traffic stops yield guns, drugs, arrests

Thursday

Jun 13, 2013 at 12:01 AM

STOCKTON - Officers from the Stockton Police Department's Community Response Team made three traffic stops resulting in six arrests, three gun seizures and drug confiscations over a period of less than five hours Tuesday evening, authorities said.

The Record

STOCKTON - Officers from the Stockton Police Department's Community Response Team made three traffic stops resulting in six arrests, three gun seizures and drug confiscations over a period of less than five hours Tuesday evening, authorities said.

Officers made the first stop about 6:30 p.m. near Kentfield Road and Surrey Lane. While searching the vehicle, officers found a sawed-off shotgun hidden in a rear cargo compartment as well as marijuana and methamphetamine, authorities said.

Raina Armenta, 32, was arrested on suspicion of carrying a loaded firearm and possession of a short-barreled shotgun, police said. Gabriel Villa, 35, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance for sale and possession of marijuana for sale, authorities said.

Officers made two more arrests less than an hour later and a mile away after stopping a vehicle in the 4900 block of West Lane at 7:16 p.m. Inside the car, officers located a loaded semiautomatic handgun hidden behind the glove compartment, authorities said.

James Gloria, 31, was arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm with gang enhancements, police said. Melecio Echavarre, 26, was arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, carrying a loaded firearm with the intent to commit a felony and unlawful possession of a firearm, authorities said.

Police arrested two more men near California and East 2nd streets about 11:05 p.m. Officers approached the men as they exited a vehicle and discovered a loaded handgun that had been hidden underneath the vehicle. Boonchan Phoumeenavong, 30, was arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm and conspiracy to commit a crime, police said. Jerry Kouiyouth, 21, was arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed firearm and conspiracy to commit a crime, authorities said.